io8 The Scottish Naturalist. 



and which Dr. Staudinger, in his catalogue, refers to arcuosa^ 

 Surely there is some mistake here ? 



Acosmetia arcuosa. — Not uncommon in one spot, where the 

 food plant grows. Does not appear to vary. 



Caradrina blanda. — Abundant. Alsines may occur, but al- 

 though I have specimens which might be attributed to that 

 species, I prefer omitting it. 



Rusina tenebrosa. — Common at sugar, at ragwort blossom^ 

 and comes freely to light ; varies in intensity of shade. 

 Occurs up to 700 feet. 



Agrotis suffusa. — Rare. Comes to light. 

 A. clavis ( - segetimi). — Abundant some seasons. Varies con- 

 siderably in size and markings, and also in the shade of ground 

 colour. This moth must wander considerably, as I have taken 

 it in the woods at sugar, at an elevation of 600 feet. It is very 

 partial to rhododendron blossom, and I have remarked that 

 this insect, as well as excla7?iatioms, as soon as they alight on 

 the trusses of blossom, crawl inside and feed at the base of the 

 blossom, differing in this respect from others of the noctuse,. 

 which feed in the blossom like bees. It is curious to see the 

 numbers which are whizzing about, and yet become invisible 

 almost as soon as they alight, owing to this habit of crawling 

 about in the heart of the trusses. 



A. corticea. — Not uncommon. I have taken this insect in the 

 same localities as segetum, up to 600 feet. 



A. nigricans of late years has been very abundant and ex- 

 cessively variable, both in the shades of ground-colour and in 

 the intensity and colour of the markings. In some specimens 

 the latter vary little from the former in the shade, in others the 

 lines and other markings are of a beautiful glossy-yellow. 

 Some have the subterminal line composed of yellowish-white 

 dots, while in others again it is entirely absent. A. nigricans 

 is particularly partial to ragw^ort blossom. It occurs at all 

 altitudes. 



A. obelisca. — This insect is abundant on Moncreiffe Hill^ 

 from 100 feet upwards. It also varies in size and in the inten- 

 sity and form of the markings. Here again the subterminal 

 line and wedge-shaped marks accompanying it are sometimes 

 wanting, although the general contour of the insect is unmis- 

 takeable. I have taken it at sugar, but more commonly on 

 heather and rag^vort blossom. I think it has increased con- 

 siderably in the last two years. 



